Leather-working machine.



PATBNTED APR. 28, 1903.

ITO-726,267.

H. F. .DOUGHBRTY. LEATHER WORKING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1901.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H0 MODEL.

WITNESSES: .xy.

m VENTOH 0 7 ATTORNEY THE worms PETERSCCL. PHOTO-Linda" WASNINGTON. n. c.

No. 726,267. I PATENTED APR. 28, 1903. H. F. DOUGHERTY. LEATHER WORKING MACHINE. A

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 A TTOl-TNE) PATENTED APR.'28, 1903'.

H. F. DOUGHERTY.

LEATHER WORKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILE-D AUG. 17, 1901.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1am MODEL.

INVENTOf? fizz ATTORNEY PATENTED APR. 28, 1903.

H. P. DOUGHBRTY LEATHER WORKING MACHINE.

4 8HBETSSHEET 4.

APPLIUATION FILED'AUG. 17, 1901.

no MODEL.

Cmm

I INVENTOH .A TTOHNEY mus PLHIRS around UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH F. DOUGI-IERTY, OF WVILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JAMES I. FORD, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

LEATHER-WORKING MACHINE.

$EECIFJLCATION forming part of Letters Patent hid 726,267, dated April 28, 1903. Application filed August 1'7, 1901. Serial No. 72,341. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HUGH F. DOUGHERTY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at VVilmington, Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leather- \Vorking Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference My invention relates to that class of ma-. chinesemployedinthemannfactureofleatherfor performing the operations in a tannery of 'unhairing, puttingout-,and striking out morocco,calf, and other skins and small hides,

to remove the-loosened hair therefrom after liming, increase their superficial area, remove the fieshings, strike out the absorbed tanningliquors and water, andotherwise render them smooth and even-and-more readyfor the sub sequent operations on the raw skins of tan-- ning and finishing them into leather.

My invention has for its object to increasethe material output of such a machine without proportionately increasing its size, to en: able the device tothoroughly unhair the skinsand more evenly put them out, as it is technically termed, and to discharge and carry off the stripped hair by convenient means and in a more direct way to avoid clogging of the machine.

My invention as shown in the drawings is embodied in an unhairing-machine as its primary function; but it is very readily adapted by slight changes known to those skilled in the art to enable it to perform any other and all of the functions before recited.

It consists in the several novel mechanical elements and in their several combinations, as hereinafter fully set forth and as will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating an embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is an end elevation from the rear or hair-deliveryend of the machine. Fig. 2 is an end ele vation from the opposite or what might be called the front end of the machine. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device, the driving mechanism and the platform of Fig. 1 being omitted in order to bring out more fully the device for receiving and carrying off and delivering the skins and the stripped hair gearing, shown in the present embodiment of inyinve'ntion as a pull'eyA', mounted on shaft A' carrying a small pinion a, gearing with a larger pinion a on shaft A which at its opposite end portion has mounted thereon a pinion a in mesh with a larger pinion a on the shaft A The pulleyA receives motion from a belt g, driven from the shafting f Likewise mounted in the frame A in vertical alinement with shaft A is a corresponding shaft A carrying sprocket or star-shaped wheels A A similar to the like Wheels on shaft A Each of the sprocket or star- 'shaped wheels referred to and of which there are two on each shaft A and A flproperly spaced apart, is formed with segmental sides I), which at their juncture b are provided with slots 5 adapted to properly engage suitable link-pins b of an endless chain of supporting-tables B'to impart thereto a positive =movement in an endless path around said wheels, as will be obvious.

The endless chain of supporting-tables B is composed of a series of supporting-tables B, having their sides joined by links B secured by suitable link-pins b at points Within the contiguous edges,as more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and as a preferred form of constructionin order to give desired strength and rigidity to the parts I have duplicated the links B along the side edges of the supporting-tables, as shown at B, the distance between the link-pins b throughout the length of the endless chain of supporting-tables being equal to the distance between the slots 19 in sprocket or star wheels A and A so that as the endless chain of supporting-tables is caused to travel around the sprocket or starshaped wheels through the actuation thereof from the main shaft A the link-pins b will, successively enter the slots 12 in said wheels.

In the treatment of hides and skins in the the movement of the supporting-tables, being manner contemplated it is desirable that the hides or skins be placed upon the supportingtables, over the edges thereof, with a portion of the hides or skins on each side of the table and in as smooth a condition as possible, a result readily effected in the present instance by reason of the connection of the supporting-tables by links which are jointed thereto at points within the supporting edges of the tables rather than at the extreme edges thereof. From this construction it will be obvious that as the endless chain of supportingtables is moved in its path the edges of the tables passing around the sprocket or starshaped wheels A and A, as indicated in Fig. 4, will project beyond the vertical line of tables extending between said wheels and provide a clearance-space between the edges of adjacent tables, and as the hides or skins are placed over the edge of the tables as the latter on their upward run pass around the wheels A it is evident that the supporting edge of the tables will be presented in a most advantageous position clear of the remaining tables for the proper placement thereon of the hide or skin to be treated.

Mounted on each side of the upward run of the endless chain of supporting-tables are the unhairing, fleshing, 'or putting-out devices, which in the present embodiment of my invention are shown as rollers O C and O C, Fig. 4, supplied with any usual form of stripping-knives or fluted surfaces,depending upon the character of work to be performed. These rollers are each mounted in a hanger S, Figs. 1 and l, suitably pivoted at S to a supporting-bracket S, the said hangers S being curved, as shown, for the accommodation ofjournal-plates M M, Fig. 1, held loosely between the opposite supportingpins 01 it, one of which (shown in said Fig. 1 as the lower pin) being preferably formed as a screw-pin to provide for proper adjustment. Since each end of each of the rollers O O O C is thus held in what I will term a swiveljoint for purposes ofidentification, it will be obvious that each may yield at either end to compensate forirregularities in the thickness of the skin or hide passing between them.' In order to cause the rollers C O O C to bear with proper yielding force against the hides or skins as they are carried therebetween by the supporting-tables,I have provided springpressure devices, shown as pins 3' passing through each pair of hangers S and having a head or nut s on each end thereof, a spring 3 being interposed between each head or nut s and the adjacent hanger and normally acting to force the hangers and the rollers carried thereby toward each other with the desired yielding pressure.

The rollers O C and C G are driven in opposite directions against the run of the endless chain of supporting-tablesthat is, the adjacent surface of each roller in each pair runs in the same direction and opposite to driven by any desired or appropriate form of driving instrumentalities, shown in the present instance as shafts E F, mounted on standards E F at opposite ends of the machine, said shafts E F being driven from pulleys E F and carrying gears c and f, respectively. (See Fig. 3.) The gear e transmits motion to gear 6', and the pulley E the shaft of which carries the gear e, is driven by a belt 6 from a suitable shafting f. (See Fig. 2.) Operatively connected to the gears e and e, so as to be driven thereby, are the sprocketwheels 0 and 0 which through suitable sprocket chains G and G and sprocket-wheels c c on the shafts of the rollers C C drive said rollers O C in opposite directions, as described.

At the other end of the machine opposite to the driving means for the upper rollers C C and meshing with the gear fis a gear f, each of which gears has Operatively connected thereto sprocket-wheels f f which through suitable sprocket-chains I-l H Fig. 3, connect with sprocket-wheels c c on the shafts of and to operate the lower pair of rollers (J C in opposite directions, as described, motion being imparted to the pulley F and its train of sprocket-gearing by a belt f from the suitable shafting f.

In order that the unhairing and other operations on the hide or skin may be properly carried out, it is desirable that the hide or skin shall be supported in an unyielding manner as it passes between the rollers O C and O O, and to this end I have not only formed the tables B to give sufficiently stable support to the skins or hides, but I have also pro- ICC vided guides d don each side of the machine,

which just prior to the entrance of the supporting-tables between the first or lower pair of rollers O C are engaged by the edges of said tables or the links 13, secured thereto, and said guides are extended to a point above the upper pair of rollers G C. From this it follows that as the supporting-tables pass be tween the rollers O C and C C the said tables are held from anylateral movement, and the skins or hides are thus acted upon by the rollers in a manner similar to what would be the case if they were held upon a substantially rigid support. It will be noticed that the lower ends of the guides at d are separated somewhat to form a wide mouth (1 whereby is insured the proper engagement of the edges of the supporting-tables with the guides as they rise toward the first pair of rollers O C.

One of the great difliculties in the unhairing of hides and skins is the rapid accumulation of hair and other substances, which, becoming bunched and matted, seriously interfere with the proper and eflieient working of the machine, and not only this, but should any of the matted hair or bunches lodge upon the supporting-tables and the hide or skin be placed over the same the grain of the skin would be seriously injured by the unhairing devices. To avoid these and other objections, I haveprovided means for preventing the detached hair and other substances from falling upon the supporting-tables and to effectually carry away from the working parts of the machine'all the detached'products resulting from the action of the rollers C O and C C, as will now be described.

Mounted upon the machineframe below the lower rollers O O and above the lower sprocket or starshaped wheels A A is a trough-like frame m, the upwardly-extending sides '02 of which preferably rise to a point sufficient to catch any material thrown around by the rollers O O. The trough-like frame m extends transversely of the machine the full length of the rollers O O and has one end wt preferably extended to provide a conduit or guide for the hair and other material to a point beyond the working parts of the machine. I The lower wall of the trough-like frame mis slotted, as at m to provide a passage for the endless chain of supportingtables B, and in order to confine the detached hair and other material within said frame out of contact with the supporting-tables as they pass upward therethrough the inner walls m are carried upward a short distance, as shown, thus, in sheet, dividing the troughlike frame into two troughs, one under each roller 0. It is to be understood, of course, that while I have thus described and shown a construction of trough -li ke frame as the preferred form now embodying my invention, yet the same may be varied between limits, it being essential only that it shall serve to catch and contain the hair and other material detached from the skins and prevent the same falling upon the supporting-tables 13'.

Supported by suitable rollers 71 and h adjacent each end of the trough-like frame are endless belts H H, traveling over the bottom of the trough-like frame 011 at each side of the endless chain of supporting-tables,said belts being operated from the pulley H to carry hair and other material falling thereon from the trough-like frame and deliver the same over the roller 71,, where it may be removed or fall into suitable receptacles. Beneath the trough-like frame there is provided aguide if, over which the belt passes and by which it is held well up under the said frame, inclined as shown.

Adjacent the upper rollers O C and carried by the hangers S S are the directors and guide-boards L L, which serve to catch any hair or other material thrown outward by the upper rollers O O and direct it downward into the trough-like frame m. The arrangement of the refuse-delivering belts H H and the trough-like frame 'm, so as to catch the hair and other material detached from the skins or hides and carry the same away from the machine without liability of any such material falling upon the supporting tables as they pass around the lower sprocket or wheels A A is an important feature of my invention, and while I have designated the specific arrangement shown it is to be understood that my invention is not limited thereto.

Suitably connected to the machine-frame between the upper andvlower rollers C O and O O is a. platform D, upon which an attendant may stand to shift the skins upon the supporting-tables as they rise from between the lower rollers to thereby insure that all parts of the skin shall be subjected to the action of at least one pair of said rollers.

The operation is as follows: Motion being imparted to the pulley A from shaft through the driving-belt g, the upper sprocket or star-shaped wheels are caused to turn, thereby moving the endless chain of supporting-tables, as will be apparent, the rollers G O and O 0 being also driven as described from the shaft f Hides or skins are fed to or placed over the edge B* of each supportingtable as it travels around the lower sprocket or star-shaped wheels A A and is about to start on the upward movement in position indicatedat X, Fig. 4, at which time by reason of the link connection of one supportingtable with the next adjacent table at points between the upper and lower edges of the tables the upper edges of the table assume a projecting position, as indicated at X, out of the line of vertically-moving tables, at which point an attendant places a skin or hide over the upper edge, with a portion lying on either side of the table. As the table, now supplied with a skin or hide, moves upward its edges enter the open mouth (1 of the guides 61 d and is thereafter held from sidewise movement or vibration as the table enters between and the hide or skin is acted onby the lower rollers C C. After passing the rollers C O the attendant on platform D moves the hide or skin a little farther onto one side of the supporting-table in order to bring-the part of the hide or skin that was upon the upper edge of the table,and consequently not treated by the lower rollers O O, in position to be acted upon by the upper rollers G C. As

the refuse, such as hair and the like, is rethe tables beneath, as before described. The

skins or hides adhere somewhat to the supporting-tables and are removed therefrom on the downward run of the endless chain of supporting-tables at a point Y, Fig. 4. I

The utility of my improved machine is obvious. By it as many as eight hirhdred dozen skins per day may be unhai red,'*andif used for putting outthe skins are perfectly and evenly stretched, reducing-the grain, removing all wrinkles, and delivering the skin free from sloppy tan and water and merely moist. The flutings, blades, or slickers carried by the rollers are so operated as to do the work of stretching and putting out with a minimum of pressure, and the skins are properly caught up and delivered automatically by the takeup and delivery mechanisms without any undue, or rather uneven, pulling, the comparatively slow moving rollers expressing out the water practically complete, resulting in aproper stretching, and consequently full measurement or superficial area and worked down to give a liner and softer finish.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with leather-working mechanism to act upon the skin, of devices to deliver the skin thereto, consisting of a vertically-traveling series of skin-supporting tables arranged in endless chain, said tables in the series being pivotally joined by connecting-links on a line rearward of the forward edge of the table, operating to throw each table in the series out of alinement with the others on the beginning of its upward movement to provide clearance between the edges of adjacent tables, and a pair of oppositelymounted sprocket-wheels on which the said chain series of tables is operatively mounted, and with actuating devices to rotate said sprocket-wheels; substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of yieldinglymounted rollers carrying leather-working devices, and with means to resiliently press said rollers against an interposed skin, of devices to deliver the skin thereto, consisting of a vertically-moving chain of pivoted links and skin-supporting tables arranged alternately in the series, each link joining adjacent tables being pivoted at its ends to the adjacent tables at points intermediate the edges of said tables, means to guide and support said tables when passing to and between said leatherworking devices, a pairof oppositely-mounted sprocket-wheels on which said chain of pivotally-linked tables is operatively mounted, and means for moving said chain of supporting-tables; whereby as the tables pass around the lower sprocket-wheel on their upward movement the forward edge of each table so passing said wheel will project out of alinement with the contiguous forward table in the series to provide clearance between the adjacent edges of the tables.

3. In a leather-working machine, the combination with a supporting-frame and driving mechanism, of a vertically-moving series of skin-supporting tables adapted to receive and deliver the skins to leather-working devices, of a horizontally-disposed pair of rollers carrying said last-named devices, arranged one on either side of the path of travel of said series of tables, journal-plates supporting the ends of said rollers, a fixed bracket, two 6ppositely-disposed pivoted bearings for said journal-plates, devices adapted to adjustably hold said journal-plates within their respective pivoted bearings, and resilient means connecting said opposite dependent pivoted roller-bearings.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with leather-working devices, a continuously moving skin support, with means to bring said skin-support into opposing relation to the leather-working devices, of a refuse conveyer disposed below said leather-working devices, adapted to receive and discharge the refuse material removed from the skin bysaid leather-working devices.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a series of skin-supporting tables linked in endless chain, a yieldingly-mounted roll carrying unhairing devices arranged in the path of said series of moving tables, and means to receive and discharge the hair and other material stripped from the skin thereby, consisting of a transversely-moving carrier and guiding devices between the same and the leather-working roll operating to direct said refuse material to the moving carrier.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with an endless chain of supporting-tables, means on opposite sides of a run of said tables for acting upon the skins, a trough-like frame situated below said means into which the detached hair and other material are delivered, said trough-like frame having. a slotted bottom for the passage of the endless chain of supporting-tables, and refuse-belts with means for operating the same and movable within said trough-like frame for carrying the hair and other materials out of the machine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 13th day of August, A. D. 1901.

HUGH F. DOUGHERTY.

Witnesses:

ANDREW V. GROUPE, H. T. FENTON. 

